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Today, we mark Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit among the apostles and followers of Jesus. Celebrated 50 days after Easter (including the day of Easter itself), the name of the holiday comes from the Greek Pentēkostē, which literally means “the 50th day.”

The events of the day are foretold by Jesus in the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, just before his Ascension. While his followers were with the risen Christ, he tells them, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5, NRSV). He goes on to say to them, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

The followers would not wait long for the promised Spirit. The author of Acts, traditionally believed to be Luke, recounts:

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each” (Acts 2:1-6).

We celebrate Pentecost as the inauguration of the Church’s mission in the world. Empowered by the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are to go out into our neighborhoods and the wider world—to Jerusalem, to Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth—witnessing to the risen Christ.

The Day of Pentecost is identified by the Book of Common Prayer as one of the feast days “especially appropriate” for baptism (Book of Common Prayer, p. 312). Because of this, Pentecost is also known as “Whitsun” or “Whitsunday” (“White Sunday”), a term used to describe the white baptismal garments worn by those who were baptized at the Vigil of Pentecost and then worn to church on the Day of Pentecost.

Collect for Pentecost

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen (Book of Common Prayer, p. 227).

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19 de mayo de 2024 – Pentecostés (B)
Pentecostés

Hoy destacamos a Pentecostés, la venida del Espíritu Santo entre los apóstoles y seguidores de Jesús. Celebrado 50 días después de la Pascua (incluyendo el mismo día de la Pascua), el nombre de la fiesta proviene del griego Pentēkostē, que literalmente significa “el día 50”.

Los acontecimientos del día quedan predichos por Jesús en el primer capítulo de los Hechos de los Apóstoles, justo antes de su Ascensión. Mientras que sus seguidores estaban con Cristo resucitado, él les dice: “Juan bautizó con agua, pero ustedes serán bautizados dentro de poco con el Espíritu Santo” (Hechos 1: 5). Y continúa diciendo: “Recibirán la fuerza del Espíritu Santo, que vendrá sobre ustedes; y serán testigos míos en Jerusalén, Judea y Samaría y hasta el confín del mundo”(Hechos 1: 8).

Los seguidores no esperarían durante mucho tiempo la promesa del Espíritu. El autor de los Hechos, que

tradicionalmente se cree que es Lucas, relata:

“Cuando llegó el Día de Pentecostés, estaban todos reunidos. De repente vino del cielo un ruido, como de viento huracanado, que llenó toda la casa donde se alojaban. Aparecieron lenguas como de fuego, que descendieron por separado sobre cada uno de ellos. Se llenaron todos del Espíritu Santo y empezaron a hablar en lenguas extranjeras, según el Espíritu les permitía expresarse. Residían entonces en Jerusalén judíos piadosos, venidos de todos los países del mundo. Al oírse el ruido, se reunió una multitud, y estaban asombrados porque cada uno oía a los apóstoles hablando en su propio idioma” (Hechos 2:1-6).

Celebramos Pentecostés como la inauguración de la misión de la Iglesia en el mundo. Facultados por el don del Espíritu Santo, vamos a salir a nuestros vecindarios y al mundo entero a Jerusalén, a Judea, a Samaria y hasta los confines de la tierra, dando testimonio de Cristo resucitado. El Día de Pentecostés es señalado por el Libro de Oración Común como uno de los días de fiesta, “especialmente apropiados para el bautismo” (Libro de Oración Común, p. 233). Debido a esto, Pentecostés es también conocido como “Whitsun” o “Whitsunday” (“Domingo Blanco”), un término usado para describir las prendas bautismales blancas utilizadas por los que fueron bautizados en la Vigilia de Pentecostés y luego yendo vestidos de blanco a la iglesia en el Día de Pentecostés.

Colecta de Pentecostés

Dios omnipotente, en este día que abriste el camino de la vida eterna a toda raza y nación por el don prometido del Espíritu Santo: Esparce este don sobre todo el mundo por la predicación del Evangelio, para que llegue a los confines de la tierra; por Jesucristo nuestro Señor, que vive y reina contigo, en la unidad del Espíritu Santo, un solo Dios, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén (Libro de Oración Común, Pág. 143).

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The Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ is celebrated 40 days after Easter Day, marking the conclusion of Jesus’ postresurrection appearances and his ascension into heaven. This year, Ascension Day fell last Thursday, May 9.

Celebration of this holy day dates back at least to the late fourth century, and scriptural references to Jesus’ ascension occur in both The Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of Mark:

“So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven’” (Acts 1: 6-11, NRSV).

“So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19, NRSV).

The Ascension of Jesus is also professed in the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed: “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father” (Book of Common Prayer, pp.120, 358).

Collect for Ascension Day

Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen (Book of Common Prayer, p. 226).

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12 de mayo de 2024 – Pascua 7 (B)
Día de la Ascensión

La fiesta de la Ascensión de Jesucristo se celebra 40 días después del día de la Pascua, que marca el fin de las apariciones después de la resurrección de Jesús y su ascensión al cielo. Este año, el Día de la Ascensión cayó el pasado jueves 9 de mayo.

La celebración de este día sagrado se remonta por menos a finales del siglo IV, y las referencias bíblicas a la Ascensión de Jesús se producen en ambos en los Hechos de los Apóstoles y en el Evangelio de Marcos:

 “Los que estaban reunidos con Jesús, le preguntaron: ‘Señor, ¿vas a restablecer en este momento el reino de Israel?’ Jesús les contestó: ‘No les toca a ustedes saber en qué día o en qué ocasión hará el Padre las cosas que solamente él tiene autoridad para hacer; pero cuando el Espíritu Santo venga sobre ustedes, recibirán poder y saldrán a dar testimonio de mí en Jerusalén, en toda la región de Judea y de Samaria, y hasta en las partes más lejanas de la tierra.’ Dicho esto, mientras ellos lo estaban mirando, fue llevado, y una nube lo envolvió y no lo volvieron a ver. Y mientras miraban cómo subía Jesús al cielo, dos hombres vestidos de blanco se aparecieron junto a ellos y les dijeron: ‘Galileos, ¿por qué se han quedado mirando al cielo? Este mismo Jesús, que estuvo entre ustedes y que ha sido llevado al cielo, vendrá otra vez de la misma manera que lo han visto irse allá’” (Hechos 1: 6-11, Dios habla hoy).

“Después de hablarles, el Señor Jesús fue levantado al cielo y se sentó a la derecha de Dios” (Marcos 16:19, Dios habla hoy).

La Ascensión de Jesús es también afirmada en el Credo de los Apóstoles y el Credo de Nicea:

“Subió al cielo y está sentado a la derecha del Padre” (el Libro de Oración Común, pp. 85, 281).

Colecta para el Día de la Ascensión

Dios todopoderoso, cuyo bendito Hijo nuestro Señor Jesucristo ascendió por encima de todos los cielos para llenarlo todo: danos fe, por tu misericordia, para percibir que, según su promesa, habita con su Iglesia en la tierra, hasta el fin de los tiempos. Por Jesucristo nuestro Señor, que vive y reina contigo y el Espíritu Santo, un solo Dios, en la gloria eterna. Amén (Libro de Oración Común, p. 141).

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This week marks the fourth of five sessions of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution. As these discussions progress toward a legally binding treaty, we encourage the United States to strongly support measures to phase out single-use plastics. As the Episcopal Church, we are part of the Anglican Communion, and we echo the call of our Anglican siblings to reduce and eventually ban single-use plastics.

As people of faith, we believe caring for God’s creation is a moral obligation, and as one way we love our neighbors as ourselves. Plastic has made its way into every corner of the earth, from the bottom of the ocean to the top of mountains, and even in the air we breathe. Plastic pollution is causing serious environmental and health problems globally.

We ask the United States, as a global leader, to support the banning of all single-use plastics. Less than 10% of plastic has been recycled. Continuing to mass produce single-use items only contributes to plastic pollution. While recycling programs are a step in the right direction, they do not address the root cause of this problem. Because it does not decompose, every piece of plastic ever made still exists. While individual actions are being taken, real policy change is required to deal with more than seven billion tons of plastic waste that has been created. We hope to see meaningful change come from these sessions and are grateful for the work being done to address this issue.

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To order UTO materials, please visit https://dfms.formstack.com/forms/uto_orders

May 20 is the deadline to order materials before we launch our new distribution model over the summer. We are no longer able to ship materials “on demand.” If you are in an emergency, please email Heather and she’ll be happy to help if she can. In June, we’ll launch a new ordering system which will allow you to place orders for either fall materials, spring materials (Lent), or materials that are not seasonally dependent. We will ship fall materials in August, Lenten materials in February, and non-seasonal materials around Easter.

For the program year 2024-2025: 

• Orders placed from June 1 through Aug. 1 will ship in August. 
• Orders from Aug. 2 through Feb. 1 will ship in February. 
• Orders from Feb. 2 through April 1 will ship in April. 
• We will only ship boxes and envelopes from May through August as we’ll be creating the new materials for program year 2025-2026. 
• We will have a kit for new congregations and one for diocesan conventions that will ship on a need-be basis; however, if you are planning to have an exhibit at diocesan convention in the fall, we hope you’ll get your order in over the summer so we can make sure to have adequate materials and giveaways sent to you. 

This new system requires that we all plan and get our orders sent in well in advance of when you need them. We know there will be an adjustment period for a lot of you, so we thank you for your help in making this new system work. Please know that every kit will include UTO materials and giveaways, so we hope that it will make it worth your time and planning to order materials in advance of when you need them.

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The Episcopal Church Executive Council approved more than $1 million in United Thank Offering grants supporting 20 innovative mission and ministry projects during its April meeting.

The funds come from the United Thank Offering’s yearly Ingathering, which includes monies collected in “blue boxes” at Episcopal churches, designated as thank offerings. This year’s total includes a special matching challenge grant to raise funds for the ministries of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East.

This is the second of a three-year United Thank Offering grant focus on Matthew 25. This year’s grants fund projects that explore new, meaningful ways to welcome people with differences that cause isolation, as well as projects that encourage truth-telling, acknowledging historic trauma, and establishing a path toward healing. The 2023 grants supported projects related to the worldwide incarceration crisis.

“Everyone has felt left out at some point in their life, but Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 are all about people who are regularly left out or underserved in mainstream societies,” said Sherri Dietrich, board president of the United Thank Offering. “This year’s grants will support some really thoughtful projects that specifically focus on including these people, projects that will change the lives of people around the world and could become models for other churches and groups to use in projects of their own.” 

The UTO Board received about $3.1 million in requests from 57 applications. It was able to fund 20 projects within The Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion, including four historical grants.

Grant recipients are listed below by category. Read details about each project here. Order printed copies of the UTO grant brochure/poster here.

Episcopal Church Awards 

• Episcopal Diocese of Chicago – Community-Based Accompaniment for People Seeking Asylum: $40,495
• Episcopal Diocese of Cuba – Shortening Distances, Bridging Gaps: Labor Missionary Without Barriers: $19,660
• Episcopal Diocese of Easton – Easton English School at Trinity: $30,000
• Episcopal Diocese of Eau Clare – Province V: Engaging Gender Complexity: $55,000
• Episcopal Diocese of Ecuador Litoral – Inclusion, Equality, and the Opportunity to Learn Together: $55,000
• Episcopal Migration Ministries – Rainbow Asylum Ministry: $55,000
• Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota – Shepherd’s Tale: $43,150
• Episcopal Diocese of Venezuela – José Gregorio Hernández Pastoral Health Project: $55,000

Anglican Communion Awards

• Bilateral Partner: Brazil, Diocese of Recife – People are Made to Shine!: $55,000
• Covenant Partner: Iglesia Anglicana de la Region Central de America, Diocese of Guatemala – House of Love for the Chronically Ill: $54,000
• Congo, Diocese of Bukavu – Multi-Service Center for the Holistic Care of Women Victims of Violence: $54,938
• Kenya, Diocese of Bondo – St. Timothy’s Children’s Hope Center: $48,900
• Korea, Diocese of Busan – Empowerment through Café Inclusion: $9,200
• Korea, Diocese of Daejeon – Another Home, One Family: $55,000
• Mozambique and Angola, Diocese of Rio Pungue – Construction of a Welcome Center: $55,000
• Tanzania, Diocese of Tabora – An Inclusive Shelter & Empowerment Center: Building for the Marginalized and Disadvantaged: $48,500

Historical Grant Awards

• The Archives of The Episcopal Church – Records of the Women of the Church: Preservation and Digitization Project: $35,000
• Global Partnerships – Discernment for the Second Half of Life: $45,000
• Episcopal Migration Ministries – The Great EpisGOpal Race: $1,729.96
• Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East – 2024 Challenge Grant for Jerusalem: $187,260.82

Since 1889, the United Thank Offering has awarded more than 5,400 grants for over $144 million. Download the “Full List on UTO Grants 1883-2024” on this page. Learn more about the United Thank Offering.

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Por el Subcomité de Lengua Española

Inscríbase en los eventos en español y/o solicite material aquí
Fecha límite para solicitar material: 15 de mayo.

La Iglesia Episcopal ha cambiado muchas cosas debido a la pandemia, y quizás una de las formas más importantes en que ha cambiado se verá a través de la Convención General que toma lugar este año en Louisville, Kentucky. La Junta de la UTO, decide que en lugar de volver a la forma en que siempre hacíamos las cosas, queremos usar lo que hemos aprendido para tratar de ser lo más efectivos posible, aunque hubo cambios que afectan a la UTO en los que no tuvimos participación. Uno de los cambios es que este año no habrá un Servicio de Recolección en la Convención General, pero esperamos que pueda realizarse en la próxima trienal. Aun así, hay mucho regocijo, nuestra presencia en la Convención será muy intencional y profunda en Kentucky. Esperamos que nuestro stand sea un sitio de reunión y aprendizaje sobre la gratitud, con un botín realmente fantástico así que esperamos conocerlos. 

Debido al horario acortado y la realidad de que muchos de nuestros líderes de la UTO no vendrán a Kentucky, estamos limitando la cantidad de eventos que organizamos. Todos los eventos relacionados con la UTO tomaran lugar en la Oficina de la UTO en el Salón Saratoga justo dentro de la puerta principal del Hotel Hyatt. Dicho esto, se les invita a participar en un taller, que se va ofrecer en español, el 24 de junio de 5:00p-6:00p “UTO 101: Taller para Lideres”. También les extendemos la invitación para los talleres en inglés, si así lo desean. Los horarios estarán en el Calendario de Eventos. Luego, el 25 de junio estas invitado a una Recepción para los lideres de la UTO” de 5:15p-6:15p, donde pueden compartir, conocerse, y donde habrá un intercambio de materiales. Así que traiga consigo materiales de la UTO que ya no necesites y cámbielos por otros nuevos o por los que otras personas trajeron y no usan. Para recibir su Caja, les exhortamos que hagan sus pedidos de materiales con anticipación, por diócesis, desde ya. Habrá muchos materiales valiosos disponibles en español para el conocimiento y crecimiento sobre la gratitud y las bendiciones que a través de sus aportaciones alcanzan para bendecir a otros. Los mismos serán entregados el 23 y el 24 de junio de 10:00a-6:00p ambos en el mismo lugar antes mencionado. Debe registrarse a través de formstack para confirmar su asistencia para asegurarnos de tener suficientes materiales y asientos para los eventos. El formulario debe ser completado por una persona por diócesis. 

También estaremos realizando algunos eventos divertidos: la UTO está trayendo de regreso nuestra búsqueda del tesoro virtual, traerá a algunos de nuestros socios al stand de la UTO para compartir sobre su trabajo y ministerio que creemos que les encantará conocer y hablar en persona si está allí, y tendremos algunos obsequios súper increíbles para entregar. 

Los miembros de la Junta de la UTO asistirán a la Convención General en una variedad de roles este año. Están sucediendo muchas cosas en la convención y queremos asegurarnos de que la UTO esté representada en la mayor medida posible. Por lo tanto, nuestra Junta se está dividiendo para participar en los siguientes eventos: Trienal de ECW, Trienal de DOK (tendremos una mesa en su sala de exposiciones, así que vengan a vernos en la Casa Galt), Festival de Jóvenes Adultos y como visitantes de la Convención General. Dividiremos nuestro tiempo entre audiencias, el Stand de la UTO en la Sala de Exposiciones y ayudaremos con el programa para niños que presenta nuestro programa de Escuela Bíblica de Vacaciones: Olas de Gratitud. 

No olvides pasar por el stand de la UTO para saludar, o nos veremos en los pasillos de la convención. ¡Bendiciones y hasta pronto!

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By UTO Executive Committee

The pandemic has changed a lot of things for The Episcopal Church; perhaps one of the biggest ways that it has changed is seen through the smaller scale of General Convention this summer in Louisville, Kentucky. For those of us at UTO, there is a loss: For the second time since 1889, there will not be an Ingathering Service at General Convention. We hope that it might return at the 2027 convention in Phoenix, Arizona. There is also much rejoicing; our presence at convention will be very intentional and deep in Kentucky. We’re looking forward to having our booth be a gathering and learning site about gratitude, with some really fantastic swag.

We’ve got some friends visiting us in the booth whom we think you’ll love getting to meet if you’re there. Perhaps the biggest joy is helping with the children’s program. Our Board will be present at the ECW (Episcopal Church Women) Triennial (come see us at our UTO table), DOK (Daughters of the King) Triennial (come visit our table in the DOK exhibit hall), and for hearings at General Convention. Due to the shortened schedule, we only have two workshops we want to invite the general public at Convention to join us for this year. There is no registration required for these workshops, so come as you are able!

Grant Writing 101
Thursday, June 27, from 10-11 a.m.
Hyatt Conference Room (UTO Office – inside the front door, first room to the right)
Researching and writing grant applications is a daunting task, but once you learn some simple tips and tricks, you can easily navigate the world of nonprofit grant writing. Join us to talk about ways to find funding for your ministry ideas (including, but not limited to, funding from The Episcopal Church), and how to best present those ideas to funding agencies. As a bonus, we’ll also send you home with the UTO grant application for 2025.

What’s New With UTO?
Thursday, June 27, from 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Hyatt Conference Room (UTO Office – inside the front door, first room to the right)
Bring your lunch and come hear about all the new things happening with UTO, from free formation resources to upcoming events the Board is planning for the 2024-2027 triennial. We also hope you’ll come with questions and ideas of ways we can better support your congregation in practicing gratitude. We’ll have some fun giveaways for those who join us.

Sign Up to Help Pick Up Blue Boxes at Convention
Perhaps one of the most important things we do at General Convention is collect the thank offerings of our amazing deputies/alternates, bishops, and triennial delegates/alternates. It takes less than 30 minutes, and you’ll get to meet other UTO members and join a tradition dating back to the early 1900s. Use the link above to sign up for a spot. Everyone who volunteers will get a thank-you gift in the mail after convention. Please email Heather with any questions, but the site also has a longer description regarding this important role.

UTO Leaders Event, June 25, from 5:15-6:30 p.m.
Register here
Please join us on Tuesday, June 25, from 5:15–6:30 p.m. at UTO’s reception for all parish and diocesan leaders. UTO wants to thank you all for your generous and faithful work and provide an opportunity to meet and share ideas with other UTO leaders. There will also be a resource recycling table at the event, so please bring any current resources you have but no longer need so they can be redistributed to someone who does want them. There will not be a formal presentation, but there will be some announcements, so you may come and go as you please and just enjoy time chatting and learning with other UTO leaders and some of the current and incoming UTO Board members.

Bulk UTO Material Pickup
In order to save on costs, UTO is not bringing a ton of materials to convention. With that said, we imagine we will have extras of things for UTO members and leaders to carry home. If you would like to take home materials, please wait until June 27 and then come to the booth before it closes at 2 p.m. or to the UTO office (except during the workshops) to pick up materials. Please see the next article for information on ordering Spanish language materials. 

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By Heather Melton, UTO Staff Officer

My kids participate in a program called KidStrong. For the past few months, one of the activities they’ve been learning about is how to order food. Now this might seem simple to those of us who have been ordering food for a long time, but most kids have their food ordered for them by their parents. This past week, one of the parents I was sitting next to commented that there are a lot of adults who could use this tutorial as well, so I realized I should pay closer attention to the steps the kids were learning. 

Step One: Make eye contact. Step Two: Clearly state what you want to eat and say please. Step Three: When the waitperson acknowledges your order, say thank you and maintain eye contact; maybe smile if they were extra nice to you. Since we’ve been learning this practice, my kids are super excited to order things, and they are also now watching how adults behave in places where you order things. One of my kids commented that most adults don’t look up from their phone and make eye contact. The other said most didn’t say please or thank you, which felt like a big deal to them because I’m always reminding them to say both. She literally asked when she could stop saying please and thank you since adults don’t do it. 

My answer was simple: These things sound simple but can actually be quite hard; that’s why they’re practicing it with adults they know and trust, so that it gets easier for us the longer we do it. We aren’t ever going to stop saying please and thank you, and we’re going to always make eye contact when talking to people unless it is not culturally appropriate for the person we’re speaking to. We talked about how these simple things honor the person we’re talking to and can even sometimes make their day better. Sometimes, we want to just check out and look at our phone, but it’s better to stay present; you don’t know what you’ll miss. 

Here at UTO, we talk a lot about the importance of gratitude, and sometimes I wonder if folks dismiss us because they think gratitude is simple. It is something we teach children to say, after all. For me, and I’m guessing for a lot of you, one of the things we notice when we start practicing gratitude is that it isn’t so simple. Years ago, a friend of mine, Michael, showed me a plant that looks like one in the photo. Michael told me that he loved these plants because each blade is imprinted with the blades that formed around it. He said that for him, this is a reminder that we all leave imprints on one another. 

For me, this is what happens when we practice gratitude: We imprint upon one another. I notice that when I follow the steps my kids learned about ordering food, eye contact, and saying please and thank you, I sometimes catch people off guard, as though they are surprised I’m looking at them and grateful for them. I think that’s because we’re disconnected from one another in a variety of ways. I feel it in my bones when someone thanks me, and it often catches me off guard because I’m not expecting to be thanked. 

During spring break, I hosted some of the neighborhood kids for a play group, and I ordered pizza to feed them. When the delivery driver got to my house (I had paid and tipped online), he stopped me and said, “I want to thank you for your generosity; I really appreciate that you tipped me. People don’t really tip much anymore, and I rely on it, so thank you for being generous.” I was speechless. I didn’t really think about it when I did it; I tipped a percentage that I always use, and mostly was just grateful someone would bring food to my house when it was full of kiddos who can eat their weight in pizza. I stammered; I know I said you’re welcome, but I wish I would have said something more profound. 

This exchange reminded me of two key truths of gratitude. One: For me, it is easier to say thank you than to be thanked; I need to get better at receiving gratitude. Two: Gratitude generates generosity, something we talk about at UTO (and why we have free stewardship materials). When we practice gratitude, we notice the impact of the nice things someone has done for us, and it becomes contagious; we want to pass that feeling along to others. It is nice to notice that we are connected and needed, and gratitude does that. I didn’t know it at the time, but as much as I needed the pizza to appear at my house, the driver needed me to do it as well, for very different reasons. We are connected through gratitude and generosity. Generosity doesn’t just mean money; it can mean the ways we give of our time and ourselves to help others, but in giving those things, we find we are weaving the connections between us. Strangers become neighbors, neighbors become friends, friends become family. 

The next time you wonder how to make the world a better place, consider ways to be generous and grateful, and remember as much as we want to think it is an easy task, it is in fact one that takes practice, just like my kids are learning and noticing. Consider how gratitude can help you stay present, and join in me in thinking about how hard that is when you’ve got a phone to distract you in your pocket before you just take it out and mindlessly scroll. (I’m probably just talking to myself on this one.) Be sure to let me know how the world changes when you practice gratitude and share generously of yourself with others, because I have a feeling you don’t give yourself enough credit for the ways you are knitting the world around you together with love and kindness. So, thank you for all the ways you show up in the world sharing gratitude and yourself with others. I am so grateful for the kindness and care you’re putting out into the world today and every day.

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The following contribution on behalf of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 23^rd session (April 15^th – 26^th, 2024) is being submitted to the UNPFII Secretariat in the context of the session “Regional Interactive Dialogue between Indigenous Peoples and Member States – North America”.

Good Morning Relatives, My name is Ron Braman, Eastern Shoshone, I am with the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protesant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.

Together with Melissa Chapman Skinner, Standing Rock Nation, and in solidarity with the World Council of Churches’ campaign #ThursdaysInBlack, a campaign bringing to light gender based violence, we bring awareness to the worldwide epidemic our Indigenous women and girls suffer due to violence.

Yesterday, in the Dialogue with African Indigenous voices, we heard this issue addressed, as well, so we know this is an issue affecting many of our peoples.

We are asked in this dialogue what strategic measures can be taken that advance the rights of Indigenous Peoples, but that may be difficult to identify, as we do not have the resources to combat the violence at hand.

According to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Missing & Murdered Indigenous People webpage:
– More than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women, or 84.3% have experienced violence in their lifetime.
– 56.1 percent have experienced sexual violence.
– Overall, more than 1.5 million American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime.
– American Indian and Alaska Native people are at a disproportionate risk of experiencing violence, murder, or going missing and make up a significant portion of the missing and murdered cases.

However, there is room for hope. On my home reservation, and in other parts of Indian Country, grassroots community led activism has educated, organized, and empowered the families of MMIW/P to keep the memory alive of those missing, justice for the murdered, and encourage law enforcement to thoroughly investigate.

Willeena George, Shoshone-Bannock tribal member has undergone extensive training in grassroots activism. Such training included making signs, chanting, use of megaphone, organizing meals & water for activists, as well as keeping attendees safe on route during
demonstrations.

Together with Cynder Metz, mother of missing tribal member Matt Broncho, and Susan Pevo, mother of missing and murdered, Austin Pevo, these women, along with many other community members gather on and off reservation to demonstrate and shout the names of the missing in the streets while carrying large photos of Missing and Murdered people.

Melissa adds, “Within the community of Aberdeen, SD, there is also a MMIW/P case we advocate for. Monica Bercier Wickre went missing in April 1993 after a night out with friends in Aberdeen SD. By June 1993, her body was recovered from the James River, near Bath, SD. Her case remains unsolved. In working with Monica’s family, we speak her name, share her story and advocate for justice. We also lift the family up in prayer as they continue this long journey. For more information, please LIKE & Follow Justice4Monica on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/share/cEpLN4Lgd1pzK7i2/?mibextid=A7sQZp“.

Last Friday, we gathered for a cultural night with members of the Youth Caucus. We celebrated our tradition in a cultural exchange night. We ate tribal food of the Shinnecock Nation of NY, sang songs, read poetry, danced, and we remembered a recent Missing Persons case of one of our young, Indigenous persons, Cole Brings Plenty. We remembered him in prayer and offered a moment of silence.

We will continue to hold in prayer those affected by this “silent epidemic”. We honor the families, friends, community leaders and activists as they continue to advocate for justice.

Whoweewho/Pilamaya (Thank You)

About the authors:

• Ronald Braman was born in Lander, Wyoming, and is an enrolled member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe, Wind River Indian Reservation, Fort Washakie, Wyoming. A lifelong resident of Idaho, Ronald studied voice at Idaho State University, travelling extensively throughout Europe during that time. Ron advocates for the arts, producing classical concerts, and poetry readings, including US Poet Laureate, Joy Harjo. He has hosted events with the Rocky Mountain Writers Festival. He works with the Episcopal Church as a Director of Music in Fort Hall, Idaho, serving as pianist, organist, youth champion, Doctrine of Discovery Trainer, and Sr. Warden, in addition to being a lay worship leader, liturgist, preacher, and deputy to General Convention. He creates tribal shell dress, beadwork, moccasins, and feather work. Tribal ceremonial songs are highly regarded and regularly supported in his community, singing backup (as a Two-Spirit gay man) with local drummers for Sundance, as well as leading songs for Ghost Dance. The work of the UN holds a special place in Ron’s heart for advocacy.
• Melissa Chapman Skinner is a member of the Húŋkpapȟa (Standing Rock) and Isáŋyathi (Santee) Nations. She holds her Master’s in Legal Studies – Indigenous Peoples Law from the University of Oklahoma as well as her Bachelor’s and Associate in Human Services degrees from Sitting Bull College. In her free time, Melissa loves to spend time with her family and friends, travel to various places but her favorite being a powwow, and work on various beadwork projects. She has worked with the Episcopal Church Indigenous Ministries office for over 10 years, focusing on United Nations advocacy and building community. She is passionate about helping others, especially in Indian Country.

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